Who Should Sponsor & Exhibit?

IJA is offering event partners a great mix of educational, networking and marketing opportunities to reach an influential Indigenous audience. In return for their participation and support, IJA will acknowledge sponsor organizations through recognition opportunities to be featured in the program book, on the IJA website and throughout event promotion materials, including on the IJA YouTube channel, which will host select IMC content following the in-person conference.

If you are a recruiter, tribe, university, school, nonprofit or foundation with a mission to support and engage Indigenous communities, the conference is an opportunity to reach unique audiences and share unique experiences with the media professionals covering Indian Country.

For branding and sponsorship opportunities or questions about the 2025 Indigenous Media Expo, email: fcompton@naja.com.  

The IMA’s are the first and only awards contest dedicated to honoring the work of Indigenous journalists and non-Indigenous journalists covering our stories. The IMA’s are uniquely designed to recognize excellence in reporting on Indigenous Peoples and communities across the U.S., Canada and globally. Entries from IJA members and non-members highlight important stories which we’re honored to celebrate every award season. The submission deadline has been extended to March 28.

IJA members and non-members can submit their entries using the BetterBNC Media Awards Platform. Before submitting an entry, please read the full contest instructions. Failure to comply with contest rules may lead to delayed results, ranking penalties during judging or full disqualification of entries without a refund.

Reserve your room at the host hotel

Hotel reservations at the Isleta Resort & Casino, located at 11000 Broadway Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87105, can be made by calling 1-505-724-3800 and referencing the IMC event code: IJA0725 or click here to book online. Discounted group rates starting at $179 per night are available from Aug. 11-17. 

The hotel offers free shuttles to and from the Albuquerque International Sunport. Access to nearby train service is also available.

Early bird registration rates deadline extended June 22

View more details on pricing on the conference registration page.

Early Bird Registration: March 10 – June 23 (extended)
Lifetime IJA Member Early Bird $300
IJA Member Early Bird $400
Non-Member Early Bird $500
Student $200

Standard Registration: June 23 – August 8, 2025
Lifetime IJA Member Standard $400
IJA Member Standard $500
Non-Member Standard $600
Student $200

On-Site Registration: August 9-15, 2025
Lifetime IJA Member On-Site $500
IJA Member On-Site $600
Non-Member On-Site $700
Student $200

Special Events Tickets
Opening Night Reception (stand-alone / guest ticket) $50
IJA Membership Luncheon $85
Indigenous Media Awards Banquet $100
Luncheon and Banquet Bundle (Save $35) $150

Call for conference volunteers!

Join us in making the 2025 Indigenous Media Conference a success! IJA is seeking volunteers for various roles including registration, conference preparation, support for the media awards banquet, and more. If you’re interested in volunteering, please email contact@naja.com.

IMC25 Agenda At-A-Glance

Program Schedule as of August 4, 2025
Subject to change

See the full agenda here.

Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025 – DAY 1 

7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Registration 

8:30 – 10 a.m. Opening Ceremony and Breakfast (open to all registered attendees)

10 – 11 a.m. 

• • Indigenizing Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Reporting 
  • Social Media, Research and Sovereignty 
  • Covering Indigenous Environmental Justice
  • How to Sell Your News Pitch to Traditional Media – sponsored by NBCUniversal

11 – 11:30 a.m. Break

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

• • “Native America Calling” Live Radio Broadcast

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

• • How will Cuts to CPB Impact Tribal Broadcasters?
  • Narrating Climate Change through Indigenous Storytelling
  • Behind the Scenes with Tazbah Chavez on Crafting Modern Stories – sponsored by NBCUniversal

12:30 – 2 p.m. Lunch Break (on own)

2 – 3:30 p.m.

• • Reporting on MMIP
  • How to Write Your Memoir 
  • Backgrounding like a Boss with Investigative Reporters & Editors
  • Visual Storytelling with Indigenous Communities – sponsored by The Associated Press

3:30 – 4 p.m. Break

4 – 5 p.m.

• • Land Back: What Journalists Need to Know 
  • Narrative Audio Storytelling in Indian Country
  • How Should Native Journalists Respond to Deliberate Misinformation?
  • Designing Awareness: Creating an International Database on MMIWP 

5 – 5:15 p.m. Break

5:15 p.m. Shuttles to Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 

5 – 7 p.m. IJA Elections

• MEMBERS ONLY: In-person voting for the IJA Board of Directors will take place at the IJA Voting Table at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Only eligible IJA members in good standing may vote.

5:30 – 8 p.m. Opening Night Reception at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

7:30 – 8:15 p.m. Shuttles to Isleta

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 – DAY 2 

7 – 8 a.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga | Go Wa’ Lawn

7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Registration

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Indigenous Media Expo | Grand Ballroom C

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

• • A New Era in Plant Medicine: Storytelling & Qualitative Data To Drive Healing
  • Faces of the Diaspora: Covering your Indigenous Community from Afar
  • Bringing Back the Buffalo: Can Indigenous Land and Species Management Save Us?
  • Muscogee Voices: Student Journalists Covering Indigenous Communities 
  • Preserving Our Stories in Real Time: Indigenous Journalists’ Oral History Archives 

9:30 – 10 a.m. Break

10 – 11:30 a.m.

• • Unveiling the Scars of Indian Boarding Schools
  • Holistic Safety Clinic: How to Protect Yourself in an Increasingly Hostile Environment
  • Using Signal for Secure Confidential Communication
  • Indigiqueer Committee Presents: Building Better 2SLGBTQIA+ Coverage in Your Newsroom 
  • Film Screening: SHE CRIED THAT DAY + Q&A

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. IJA Membership Luncheon (ticketed event)

1 – 2 p.m. IJA Elections

• • MEMBERS ONLY: In-person voting for the IJA Board of Directors will take place at the IJA Voting Table in the conference foyer of the Isleta Resort & Casino. Only eligible IJA members in good standing may vote.

1 – 2 p.m.

• • Q&A with the 2025 Indigenous Journalism Fellows
  • The Demise of Indian Time: The Void Left When an Indigenous Outlet Stops Reporting 
  • How to Write Stories Rooted in Scientific Research 
  • Covering Tribal and State Legislatures – Insights from Indigenous Affairs Reporters
  • Building International Solidarity Among Indigenous Journalists as a Mental Health Strategy

2 – 2:30 p.m. Break

2:30 – 4 p.m. 

• • Reproductive Sovereignty in the Media
  • How to Inspire the Next Generation of Native Journalists
  • Film Screening: REMAINING NATIVE + Q&A

4 – 5 p.m. IJA Networking + Afternoon Snack

5 – 7 p.m. Film Screening: BLOOD & MYTH + Q&A – sponsored by Hulu

5 – 7 p.m. Freelancer Happy Hour – sponsored by the Institute for Independent Journalists, the International Women’s Media Foundation and High Country News

Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 – DAY 3

7 – 8 a.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga | Go Wa’ Lawn

8 a.m. – 1 p.m. // 5 – 7 p.m. Registration 

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Indigenous Media Expo | Grand Ballroom C

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. 

• • How to Get (and Keep) Emerging Journalists in your Newsroom
  • Indigenous Journalism Education in Canada

8:30 – 11:00 a.m.

• • Film Screening: THESE SACRED HILLS + Q&A 

9:30 – 10 a.m. Break

10 – 11 a.m. 

• • Law Enforcement Surveillance Technologies and Indigenous Communities
  • Climate Visual Storytelling: Skills for Amplifying Indigenous Narratives
  • Going into the Weeds: Strategies and Tools to Guide Tribal Hemp and Cannabis Reporting
  • What Journalism School Didn’t Teach Me 

11 – 11:30 a.m. Break 

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

• • Designing Entrepreneurship Systems that Work for You
  • The Wandering Toolkit: Creating a Tribal Safety Net to Address Wandering Persons – sponsored by AARP
  • Voting on Tribal Lands: Advancing Voting Rights With Data

12:30 – 2 p.m. Pathways and Possibilities: A Forward-Focused Conversation between MacArthur Local News Program and Indigenous Journalists (limited seating available; pre-registration is required)

5 – 6 p.m. President’s Reception, Silent Auction, Indigenous Media Expo and Photo Booth 

6 – 9 p.m. Indigenous Media Awards Banquet (ticketed event)

IJA is accepting donations for the 2025 Silent Auction

The 2025 Indigenous Media Conference Silent Auction will take place on the evening of Friday, August 15, during the Indigenous Media Awards Banquet. 

This year we’re returning to a long-standing tradition: pen-and-paper bidding. 

Suggested donations include Indigenous art, clothing, jewelry and beaded items. Unique items are welcome, and all donations are tax-deductible. 

Proceeds from the silent auction are used to support IJA’s educational programs. 

Donors will need to complete the Silent Auction Donation Form, and include a description of their donated items, estimated value and high-resolution image(s) as outlined on the form. All items must be received no later than 1 p.m. MT on Thursday, Aug. 13, to be included. Donors may bring auction items to the IJA registration desk during the conference.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Sheena Roetman-Wynn at sroetman@naja.com.

Previews of donated items coming soon!